Scouring device



@CL 29, 1935. c. B. STEVENS 2,019,368

SCOURING DEVICE Filed May 18, 1954 Patented Get. 29, 1935 S if;

SCOURING DEVICE Clarence B. Stevens, Portland, Oreg. Application May 18, 1934, Serial No. 726,385

3 Claims.

This invention relates to scouring devices, and its general object is to provide a scouring device of the steel wool type for use with kitchen utensils, metal and glassware, paint and the like, that 5 is primarily designed to protect the hands of the user and particularly the thumb and fingers, and the device is readily adjustable so that the steel wool can be fed in position for use, as it becomes worn.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scouring device that can be easily cleaned and retained in a sanitary condition with very little eiort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method of making a scouring device of the character set forth, from strands of steel wool and sheet rubber.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a scouring device that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and eX- tremely el'icient in use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and speciiically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the scouring device which forms the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken therethrough.

Figure 3 is a, top plan view of the device with the strands of wool removed.

Figure 4 is a view of a blank used in making the wool holder.

Figure 5 is a View of the strip for securing the blank in cylindrical formation.

Figure 6 is a view of 'a blank fromwhich the protector is made.

Figure 7 is a view of one of the strips used in securing the protector to the cylindrical holder.

Referring to the drawing in detail and particularly to Figures 4 to 7 inclusive it will be noted that my scouring device with the exception of the strands of steel wool is made from sheet material such as rubber, and in forming the holder I provide a rectangular blank l that is rolled into cylindrical formation with the ends thereof disposed in contacting engagement and held accordingly by a strip 2 that overlies the connecting edges of the ends as best shown in Figure 3,

to provide a cylindrical holder 3 for a plurality of strands of steel wool 4. While the strands of steel wool can be inserted in the holder after it f is formed in the manner just referred to, it will 5 be apparent that the blank i can be wrapped around the wool and secured accordingly by the strip 2.

A very important feature of my scouring device is the protecting means fdr the thumb and 10 lingers of the user, and this means is provided from a blank of material 5 which as shown in Figure 6 has reduced ends arranged in substantially triangular formation, with curved upper edge portions and straight inclined lower edge 15 portions l. The blank 5 is disposed about the cylindrical holder in a manner to provide outwardly flared lateral portions 8 forming pockets 9 to receive the thumb and iingers of the user, and while the lower edge of the blank 5 zo may be secured about the cylindrical holder 3,

I employ securing strips such as shown in Figure 7 and which include relatively short portions It? and long portions ll. The inclined lower edge portions of the blank 5 are arranged in l5 edge to edge relation, and one of the strips of Figure 7 which for distinction is indicated by the reference numeral l2 is iixed to the holder in a manner whereby the short portion l0 thereof overlaps the meeting lower edge portions l, while 30 the long portion of the strip I2 follows the bottom edge i3 of the blank 5 and extends beyond the bottom edge lto be secured to the cylindrical holder as well as the bottom edge for cooperation with the short portion in xedly associating the blank 5 to the holder, as will be apparent. Two of the strips l2 are employed and the other one is arranged so that the short portion thereof is disposed diametrically opposite the short portion of the other strip, and the long portion fol- 40 lows the opposite lower edge of the blank 5, as suggested in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.

The strips and blanks are preferably formed from sheet rubber of the self adhering type, so that where the portions of the blanks and strips 45 engage they will adhere to each other, but of course any suitable adhesive means may be employed, as well as other material substituted for the rubber, as the holder and protecting means can be made from leather or like material with- 50 out departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the use of my scouring device, it will be apparent that the thumb may be inserted in one pocket and a finger or fingers in the other pocket, with the resultthe thumb and lingers will be 55 amply protected, yet the device can be used in an eflicient manner for scouring and cleaning any surfaces whether it be at or includes cracks or crevices, as the steel wool conforms to the shape of the surface being cleaned.

The steel wool can be readily fed to a position for use as it becomes worn, and any method may be employed for that purpose, such as pulling the strands through the holder, or by grasping the holder at its top with one hand, then grasp the holder adjacent its lower end and bend the same back and forth. This action forces the wool downwardly within the holder very rapidly.

From the above description and disclosure of the drawing, it will be obvious that I have provided a scouring device that protects the thumb and fingers of the user, and due to the shape of the thumb and finger receiving pockets, their arrangement with respect to the holder, and the elastic material of the holder and pockets, the latter will set up a gripping action, therefore casual removal and displacement of the device from the hand of the user is practically impossible. The scouring material such as steel wool can be easily adjusted to expose a portion thereof for use, as the wool becomes worn. It will be further obvious that the method employed for making the device is extremely simple, yet the device is capable of performing its intended function in an eflicient manner, and with very little effort on the part of the user.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A scouring device comprising a cylindrical holder formed from a sheet of elastic material and providing a handle, means securing the sheet in cylindrical formation, straight strands of steel wool arranged within said holder and adapted to be fed therethrough, protecting means formed from a blank of elastic material disposed about the holder, means for securing the protecting means to the holder adjacent the lower end thereof and in a manner to provide oppositely disposed outwardly ared upwardly extending gripping portions providing thumb and finger receiving pockets.

2. A scouring device comprising a hollow cylindrical holder providing a handle and formed from a sheet of self adhering rubber, means for holding the sheet in cylindrical formation and formed from self adhering rubber, straight strands of steel wool disposed within said holder and adapted to be fed therethrough, a blank of self adhering rubber arranged about the holder adjacent the lower end thereof, strips of self-adhering rubber securing the blank to the holder in a manner to provide oppositely disposed laterally arranged outwardly ared upwardly extending gripping portions forming thumb and nger receiving pockets,

3. A scouring device comprising a hollow cylindrical flexible holder providing a handle, strands of metallic wool disposed within said holder and adapted to be fed therefrom, iiexible and resilent protecting means secured exteriorly about the lower portion of the holder and including laterally arranged oppositely disposed outwardly and upwardly iiared portions providing thumb and nger receiving and gripping pockets.

CLARENCE B. STEVENS. 

